About the course

Our mission is to open minds to the realities and possibilities of teaching and learning by developing reflective, creative and inquiring teachers.

Our course prepares you to teach your specialist subject(s) to pupils in the 11-19 age range.

The course is a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) which offers exactly the same teaching experience as a PGCE, but with additional Masters credits, meaning that you will be able to complete your Masters as soon as you qualify as a teacher.

You will spend two thirds of the year in school, and one third at the university, giving an excellent blend of practical experience and also chance to reflect and make use of the research expertise of university-based tutors.

To complement your development as a teacher you will complete four assignments at Masters level, exploring key issues relating to your subject and your role.

Key Features of the Sheffield course

A dedicated team of tutors who provide excellent support for all students.

Excellent school partnerships. Our longstanding relationships with schools enable us to ensure continuity for students, and many of our partnership schools are closely involved in the university-based parts of the course.

A strong subject-specific cohort. You will have chance to develop working relationships with your peers whilst in the university, which provides you with a support network once out on placement.

The chance to reflect. Teaching is an intensive profession, and at the start of your career it is essential that you have the opportunity to develop skills as a reflective practitioner. During your first placement, for example, you will spend every Friday in the University sharing your experiences and considering ways in which you can develop your teaching.

Interview process

Once we receive your UCAS application we will consider a number of factors in making our decision about whether to interview you:

Do you demonstrate a clear interest in becoming a teacher?

Do you have strong references that suggest you have the capacity to train to be a teacher?

Do you have highly developed subject knowledge, or an awareness that you need to develop this?

Have you written a strong personal statement, demonstrating your commitment to teaching, your passion for your subject and an understanding of the realities of the profession?

Depending on your subject, your selection day will take place either at the University or in a partner school, and will consist of the following elements:

Introduction to the course

A task designed to ensure that your subject knowledge is strong

A chance to interact with other candidates or with pupils, and to reflect on this experience

A written task

A formal interview, carried out by a University tutor and a school representative

How school placements work

You will undertake four periods of school experience:

One week in a primary school early in the programme

An eight-week placement between October and December

A 13-week placement between January and May

A 2-week enrichment/enhancement placement in June

In all curriculum areas you will also have the chance to visit a number of schools as a part of the University-centred parts of the PGDE. These visits will focus on specific themes such as working with pupils with EAL or supporting examination groups and will give you the opportunity to gain experience of schools beyond your main placements.

We work with over 40 schools in Sheffield, Barnsley, Derbyshire, Doncaster, North Nottinghamshire and Rotherham. This range of inner-city, suburban and rural contexts provides rich opportunities for diverse and balanced experiences in schools, and we work hard to secure you two contrasting placements.

When tutors are arranging placements, personal circumstances such as child-care and additional needs are taken into account as much as possible.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

International students

£17,600

As this course leads to a professional qualification, student teachers will be required to undertake a DBS Enhanced Disclosure and Work Health Assessment. All Student teachers will also be required to complete Safeguarding training. The cost for these will be £71 and payable via the University's Online Shop. Student teachers who have already paid for a previous DBS Enhanced Disclosure and signed up to the DBS update service will need to pay the reduced cost of £27 via the University's Online Shop. These fees also include the cost of a learning journal, which will be provided at the start of the course.

If you have a 3rd class undergraduate degree and a strong (grade A or B) A level in your specialist subject we may consider your application but you should be aware that you will not be eligible for a bursary.

Further information about fees and funding for the PGDE can be found here

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £22,000

a bursary of £20,000

With a scholarship or bursary, you’ll also get early career payments of £5,000 each in your third and fifth year of teaching (£7,500 in some areas of England).

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in maths or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree class 2:2 or above in a relevant subject. If less than 50% of your degree is in your specialist subject you will be required to undertake an SKE course as a condition of entry.

As this is an 11-19 course we are preparing students to teach up to A-level and will normally take into account the balance of your degree content and profile of GCSE and A-level (or equivalent) subjects and results to assess your suitability for the programme.

If you have non-standard qualifications you are welcome to contact us to discuss your eligibility.

Personal qualities

We consider six key elements when selecting students for our PGDE programme:

Commitment to teaching

Insight into the realities of teaching

Resilience

An analytical approach to problem solving

Enthusiasm for your subject

Interpersonal and communication skills

We will consider your strengths in each area during the selection process, including when considering your application form.

Other requirements

If you have a 3rd class undergraduate degree and a strong (grade A or B) A level in your specialist subject we may consider your application but you should be aware that you will not be eligible for a bursary.

As this course leads to a professional qualification, student teachers will be required to undertake a DBS Enhanced Disclosure and Work Health Assessment. All Student teachers will also be required to complete Safeguarding training. Full information about how to undergo these checks will be provided once you accept your place on the course.

About the training provider

Sheffield

Sheffield is a major city with a strong sense of community. The people are friendly. You'll find they go out of their way to help you and make you feel welcome. It's a compact city, easy to get around, so you'll settle in quickly. The cultural life of the city is vibrant and government statistics show that Sheffield is one of the safest major cities in the UK. With the Peak District on our doorstep Sheffield really does have something for everyone.

The University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a world top-100 university. As a member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

We are ranked in the top five universities in the UK for best overall student experience for the eighth year in a row by the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018. Our students' Union was also voted number one in the UK for the tenth year running.

The University of Sheffield is a creative place, buzzing with original ideas and a desire to make things happen. We're based close to the heart of the city and we have strong links with the community through everything we do.

The School of Education

At the School of Education you'll discover a diverse and welcoming community. We attract students from all over the UK and from countries throughout the world. We're respected internationally for our forward-thinking teaching and influential research.

Training with disabilities and other needs

As a student teacher at The University of Sheffield you will have full access to support if you have a disability or additional needs. Full information is available here

Additionally, we work closely with all our school partners to ensure that your needs are met whilst on placement, offering support and adaptations where necessary.

Support and advice

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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